Apparatus for loading wagons



(No Model.)

A. PQBERNARD.

APPARATUS FOR LOADING WAGONS.

No. 893,499. Patented Nov. 27, 1888.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED FRANKLIN BERNARD, OF WEATHERFORD, TEXAS.

APPARATUS FOR LOADING WAGONS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 393.499, dated November 27, 1888.

Application filed May 26, 18R8. Serial No. 275.247.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Ze itknown that I, ALFRED FRANKLIN BER- NARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Weatherford, in the county of Parker and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Loading Wagons, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in apparatus for loading wagons with earth when making excavations; and it consists in the peculiar construction and combination ofdevices, that will be more fully set forth hereinafter, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1. is a perspective view of a loading apparatus embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view.

A represents a pair of horses or trestles, which are arranged parallel with each other, and are connected by a horizontal platform, B, which is seen red to the upper side of the horses or trestles, and vertical sides 0, which are scoured to the outer sides of the supporting-legs, said sides orsupporting-legs being of a height sufficient to elevate the platform so that a wagon may be driven under thesame. In the center of the platform is a rectangular opening, D, in which is arranged a pair of trap-doors, E, that are hinged at their outer edges, as shown. One of the said doors is provided on its under side, at its ends, with a pair of transverse arms, F, the ends of which project beyond the free edge of the door and are adapted to bear against the under side of the opposing door, so as to support the latter in a horizontal position.

G represents a pair of guides, which are arranged at the ends of the openings D, on the under side of the platform and in line with the center of the opening. A pair of bellcrank locking arms, H, is also arranged under the platform beyond the ends of the openings, are fulcrumed in keepers or loops I, and have their shorter ends arranged and guided in the loops or keepers G, whereby when the said locking-arms are turned on their pivots their shorter arms are adapted to pass under the arms F, so as to support the doors E when closed in the opening.

K represents a link-lever, which is pivoted in a suitable guide or loop under the platform (No model.)

on one side of the openings D, and has its ends connected to the longer arms of the bell-crank locking-arms H by means of 1ink-rods L.

M represents a hand-lever, which is fulcrumed in a block, N, arranged on the platform near one end thereof, and has its lower end extending through an opening in the platform and connected to link-lever K.

From the foregoing it will be understood that by moving the said handlever in one direction the locking arms or bolts H may be turned so as to disengage the trap-doors, and thereby permit the latter to drop and uncover the opening 1).

0 represents a pair of vertical standards, which rise from the platform at points beyond the opening D and are secured by suitable braces, P. The upper ends of the said standards are connect-ed by a horizontal beam, R.

S represents a pair ofguidingsheaves, which are journaled in openings in the standards 0, near the upper ends thereof, and Treprescnts a pair of pulleys, which are suspended from the ends of the beam 1%. A link, U, is also suspended from the said beam near one of the standards 0, and to the lower end of the said link is pivotally connected a lever, V.

WV represents a pair of chains,cords, or ropes, which are passed over the pulleys T and the guiding sheaves S, and have their lower ends connected to eyebolts or keepers near the free edges of the trap doors, at the ends thereof. To the outer ends of said cords or ropes, which depend from the pulleys T,are secured weights X, which exactly counterbalance the trapdoors E.

Y represents a short rope or link which connects one of the cords or ropes WV with the lever V.

The operation of my invention is as follows: When the apparatus is arranged in position on the ground where excavations are being made, the same is provided with inclined approaches a, on opposite sides, of earth, orinclined platforms, as may be preferred. The wagon to be loaded is driven under the platform and arranged undcr the closed trap-doors, and the horses attached to the scoops or scrapers commonly employed are driven onto the platform, and the loaded scrapers or scoops have their contents discharged on the trap-doors E as they pass over the platform.

cicntquantity of earth has been thus deposited on the trap-doors to make a wagon-load, aperson station ed on the platform operates thehandlever N so as to cause the trap-doors to become unlocked,and the same immediately drop and discharge the earth into the wagon, thereby loading the same very expeditiously. The operator then depresses the long end of thelcver V, so as to return the trap-doors to their closed position, and fastens the same, and the operation before described is then repeated.

It will be understood that the earth will be accumulated on the trap doors during the in tervals between the arrival of the wagons or carts for hauling it away, so that the operation ofcxcavating the earth may he proceeded with continuously,and each Wagon or cart will only have to stop under the platform foraninstant, thus avoiding the great loss of time, such as is experienced in filling the wagons with shovels by manual labor,as is now commonly practiced.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. The combination of the platform having the opening D and the trap-doc rs E, the fastening devices to secure thetrap-doors when closed and to permit the same to open, and the colluter-weights connected to the trapdoors, sub stantially as described.

2. The combination of the elevated platform having the opening D and the hinged trapdoors E, the fastening devices to secure the trap doors when closed and permit the same to open, the standards 0, rising from the platform, the beam R, connecting the upper ends of said standard, the guiding-sheaves S, journaled to the standards, the suspended pulleys T, the cords or ropes connected to the trapdoors and passing over the guidingshcaves and pulleys, the counter-balancingWeight attached to the outer ends ofsaid cords or ropes, the link U, depending from the beam I, the lever V, attached to said link, and the rope connecting said lever to one of the elevating cords or ropes, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto a'lli xed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses:

G. K. SrEER, T. A. GAR'VIN. 

